'I would be very mad at myself' - How Junelle Bromfield convinced 'fun' intending Noah Lyles to take 2026 season seriously

Lovebirds Junelle Bromfield and Noah Lyles are two of the most famous couples in track and field. The pair having found a way to take personal pleasures away from on-track success, has made them accomplished athletes in their own right.

This year will be a bigger milestone in their love story as they're finally set to get married in April. Beyond that, they still have the 2026 track season to focus on, which Lyles never wanted to take seriously until some convincing from his fiancée.

Initially uncertain how to approach the season, considering it's an 'off-year,' a conversation with Bromfield provided clarity. She urged him to treat 2026 with the same intensity as a championship season.

"[She told me], you need to take advantage of each year, and just because it’s an off year doesn’t mean you should back off," Lyles shared in his pre-meet press before the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston. "I would be very mad at myself if I don’t go out and give everything I had, no matter the year."

This thought-provoking conversation made him rethink his plans for the year. However, he maintained he would still be having fun at it.

“Expect the unexpected,” Lyles said. “I’m going to turn this year into a fan year…Let’s have some fun. Let’s go do some off events. Let’s get some matchups that you probably haven’t even thought of. I think the harder thing is convincing the other track meets and sometimes the other athletes to get in on me with that.”

Having had an unprecedented five-year stretch of winning medals at major championships, during which Lyles cemented his legacy with two 100m and three 200m world titles, alongside his 2024 Olympic 100m gold, he's now a track and field star in mainstream global sport.

Now he feels unstoppable and wants to test his speed against anyone in the world.

“Here’s my open challenge right now: if you’re an athlete out there and you’ve got an idea for a race, let me know,” Lyles said. “Reach out to me. Let’s get it done.”

And yes, that includes all athletes.

“It doesn’t matter what sport you’re in, if you want to get your butt kicked by the world’s fastest man, I am happy to give it to you,” he said.

The 28-year-old's 2026 season officially kicks off this Saturday at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, where he will race the 300m against a strong field including Trayvon Bromell and training partner Jereem Richards.

Lyles has his eyes on reclaiming the world indoor 300m record of 31.87s he set in 2017, only to see it lowered to 31.56s by Steven Gardiner in 2022.

“Losing my world record quite a few years ago to Stevie, I was like, ‘Hmm, one day I’m going to get that back,’” said Lyles. “So shoot, why not now?” he concluded.